Garment or ironing press



April 30, 1935. E.- DAVIS Y 1,999,400

GARMENT OR IRONING PRESS Filed Aug. 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

April 30, 193 5. E DAVIS 2,999,400

GARMENT OR IRONING PRESS Filed Aug. 4; 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I l ATTORNEYS.

atenterl Apr. 3h i193 GMIENT 01R lIlEtOiNllNG JPRJESS Application August4, 1930, Serial No. 473,028

ll Claims.

This invention relates to jaw-type pressing machines such as garment andlaundry presses and particularly to means of the two-hand control typefor operating the motors of such presses.

It is common practice to provide pneumatic pressing machines withtwo-hand control devices which require the operator to hold a pushbutton depressed with each hand until the pressing elements have cometogether. When the press is thus closed it is conventional practice toprovide means for locking the valves, which are operated by the pushbuttons, in position so that the operator may release the push buttonsand working fluid will continue to flow-to the press motor to hold thepress jaws closed.

The principal object of this invention is to provide novel means forlocking a pressing machine closed without looking the two-hand controlmeans. A further object of the invention is to provide means forautomatically supplying working fluid to the motor when the pressreaches closed position, and to operate such means independently of thevalves which are operated by the two-hand control.

A further object of the invention is to provide a by-pass, for workingfluid, around the twohand control devices, and to provide means forautomatically opening a valve in the by-pass to supply working fluid tothe motor, after the pressing elements have come together, to hold thepress closed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear and will bepointed out as the description proceeds. V

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure l is a side elevation of a pressing machine to which my inventionis applied.

Figure 2 is a schematic showing, mostly in section, of the pressingmachine motor andthe control mechanism therefor.

The invention is designed primarily for use on pressing machines havingan opening and closing movement and such a machine is shown in Figure 1and includes a pressing head ll secured to a yoke or press lever I2which is pivotally mounted at l3 on a frame It of the pressing machine.A fixed pressing element or buck i5 is supported by a neck 16 which ismounted on the pressing machine frame I l. A link 20 is pivoted at 2! tothe yoke. A bell crank 22 is pivoted at 23 to the pressing machine frameit, and is pivotally connected at 25 to the link 29. A fluid motor 2i isoscillatedly mounted at 28 on the pressing machine frame M. The fluidmotor 27 includes a piston 30 which is pivotally connected at 3i to theforwardly extending arm of the bell crank 22. The link 26 and upstandingarm of the bell crank 22 form a toggle and operation of the motor 2irocks the bell crank 22 in a counter-clockwise direction, in Figure l,to straighten the toggle and bring the pressing elements M and i5together to close the press. A spring 33 is secured at its upper end tothe pressing machine frame Hi, and at its lower end to the forwardlyextending arm of the bell crank lever 22. The spring 33 rocks the bellcrank lever 22 in a clockwise direction, in Figure l, to break thetoggle and open the press when working fluid is released from the fluidmotor 21!. The mechanism thus far described is of the conventional typeand is merely one form of ironing press with which my invention may beused.

The fluid motor 21 includes a cylinder 35 having .a piston 36 thereinwhich is rigidly secured to the piston rod 30. The cylinder 35 isprovided with a port 38 in the wall thereof at a point near the lowerend of the cylinder. The'port 38 establishes communication between theinside of the cylinder 35 and a chamber 50 which is connected to a pipet I.

An orifice di of reduced cross section is provided in the pipe ill forreasons which will be explained in connection with the operation of thecontrol mechanism to open the press at the end of the pressure ironingoperation.

Working fluid passes to and from the cylinder 35 through a pipe M whichleads to a check valve casing M. This valve is in effect a double checkvalve means M provided with an upper valve seat t5 and a lower valveseat A6, thus forming a twoway check valve. A check valve A8 is locatedwithin the check valve casing M and is normally held against the seat M5by a spring 50 to close a by-pass pipe 52 leading from the top of thecheck valve casing M. A by-pass pipe 5t leads from the bottom of thedouble or two-way check valve casing Ml. When the check valve M isagainst the seat t5, working fluid can not flow from the check valvecasing M into the by-pass pipe 52. When the check valve M is against theseat 46 working fluid can not flow from the check valve casing M intothe by-pass pipe 5A.

The pipe 52 is provided with an exhaust valve casing 56 at one end, anda branch pipe 51 connects the pipe 52 with a combined intake and exhaustvalve casing 59.

The valve casing 56 contains a normally open exhaust valve 60 having avalve stem 6! which extends through the end of the valve casing 56. Apush button 62 is provided to operate the valve 66 in the valve casing56. A bell crank 63, pivoted at 66 to the pressing machine frame l6,transmits motion of the push button 62 to the valve stem 6| to operatethe valve 60.

The valve casing 59 contains a normally closed intake valve 65 and anormally open exhaust valve 66 which are connected together by a spacerrod 6'? so that they operate as a unit. A spring 66 holds the valves intheir normal open-press positions as shown in Figure 2. The valve 66 isprovided with a valve stem 16 which projects through the end of thevalve casing 59. A push button 12 is provided to operate the valves 65and 66 in the valve casing 59. A bell crank l3, pivoted at 76 to thepressing machine frame I4, transmits motion of the push button 12 to thevalve stem 16 to operate the valves 65 and 66 in the valve casing 59.

A fluid supply source conduit system such as a pipe or air pressure lineis connected by a pipe 76 with the valve casing 59. A branch pipe llleads from the fluid supply source or pipe 15 to a valve casing 86comprising in effect a control valve means in the by-pass pressuresupply line ll, 54.

The valve casing 86 contains a normally closed intake valve. and anormally open exhaust valve 86 which are connected together by a spacerrod 87 so that the valves operate as a unit and they remain in theposition shown in Figure 2 until the press closes. A spring 89 holds thevalves 85 and 86 in normal position. The valve 86 is pro vided with avalve stem 66 which projects through the end of the valve casing 80. Arocker arm 9! is pivotally mounted at 92 to a bracket 93 formed on thevalve casing 86. The rocker arm 9! is operated by a plunger 96 whichextends through the side of a diaphragm chamber 95 in which is mounted adiaphragm 96. When working fluid 'pressure is applied behind thediaphragm 96 the plunger 94 will be operated to move the rocker arm 9|against the valve stem to operate the valves 85 and 86 in the valvecasing 86. The pipe 56 connects the valve casing 80, at a point midwaybetween the valves 85 and 86, with the check valve casing 44. Pressureis supplied to the diaphragm chamber 95 through the pipe 4|.

To exhaust working fluid from the diaphragm chamber 95 a pipe I66 isconnected with the pipe GI and leads to a valve casing l0! whichcontains a normally closed exhaust valve I02. A spring I03 holds thevalve I02 in normal position and a handle I64 may be operated to openthe exhaust valve'l62 to permit fluid to escape from the pipe I06through the valve casing NH.

The operation of the control mechanism is as follows- When the press isin open position, the control devices will occupy the positions shown inFigure 2 of the drawings and the piston 36 and piston rod 36 will be atthe top of their stroke. Depression of the push button 62, withoutlikewise operating the push button 12, will close the normallyopenexhaust valve 60 but have no effect to start the operation of the motorsince the supply of working fluid pressure is cut off by the normallyclosed intake valve 65. Depression of the push button 12, withoutoperating the other push button 62, will open the intake valve 65 andclose the exhaust valve 66. Working fluid will flow through the pipe 16around the open intake valve 65, through the valve casing 59, and branchpipe 51, to the pipe 52, but no pressure will build up in the pipe 52since the working fluid will escape through the valve casing 56 and openexhaust valve 60 as fast as it is supplied through the branch pipe 57.From the above description it will be apparent that it is impossible forthe operator to close the press by operating only one of the pushbuttons 62 and 12. Should the operator remove his hand from eitherbutton 62 or 12 while the press is closing the motor is in stantlydeenergized, and the press-opening spring 33 arrests the closingmovement of the ironing head H and pulls it back up out of the way toafford clear vision of the work and room to safely smooth or correct thelay of the garment or work about to be ironed on the buck I5.

If the push buttons 62 and 12 are both depressed at the same timeworking fluid from the supply line or pipe 15 will flow through thesupply pipe 76, around the open intake valve 65, through the valvecasing 59, and branch pipe 5'! to the pipe 52. Since the exhaust valve60 is closed working fluid can not escape to atmosphere from the pipe 52through the valve casing 56. Pressure will now build up in the pipe 52and the two-way check valve 48 will move downwardly and open against thetension of the spring 50. Work ng fluid will then flow from the pipe 52into the double check valve casing 44, and through the pipe 42 to thecylinder 35 to operate the fluid motor 27 to close the press.

The check valve 48, spring 56 and valve casing 44 are so designed thatthe dynamic pressure of the working fluid flowing from the pipe 52 intothe valve casing 44 against the check valve 48 will hold the check valve48 against the lower seat 66 so that working fluid can not escape fromthe check valve casing 44 through the pipe 54 to atmosphere thru theby-pass control means 80 having the normally-open exhaust valve 86.

As the fluid motor 27 operates to close the press the piston 36 willmove downwardly, in Figure 2, until it uncovers the port 38 in the wallof the cylinder 35. The port 38 is located in such a position in thecylinder Wall that the pressing elements or jaws will be substantiallytogether before the piston 36 uncovers the port 38. When the pressingelements are substantially together there is no longer any danger of theoperator getting one hand between the pressing elements and hence, it isnot necessary to require the operator to keep his hands on the pushbuttons 62 and 12 during the remaining operation of the press. When thepiston 36 uncovers the port 38 and admits working fluid into the chamber46 from which it flows through the pipe 4! to the diaphragm chamber 95,the valves in the valve casing 80 will be operated to supply workingfluid to the motor and the operation of the valves, which are controlledby the operator, is no longer necessary.

When the diaphragm 96 is actuated by pressure from the cylinder 35 andthe rocker arm 9| tilts to open the intake valve 85 and close theexhaust valve 86, working fluid will flow from the pipe 15, through theby-pass pipe 11, around the open intake valve 85, through the valvecasing 80, the by-pass pipe 54, thru the check valve casing 44, andthence to the fluid-pressure motor 21. Hence the spaced two-handcontrols 62 and 12 are cut out, shunted or by-passed by the pressurefeed lines 15, I1 and 54 under the control of the 75 cylinder port 38and pneumatic control means 81!, 96 after the press has reached closedposition, whereby the operator may then release the two buttons and yetthe pressure remains applied to the cylinder to keep the press closed.

When the pressure is applied under the check valve 68, from the cylinderport 38, this pressure together with the spring 50 will overcome thedynamic pressure caused by working fluid entering from the pipe 52 andthe check valve t8 will move into its normal position by expansion ofthe spring 50 and into contact with the seat t8. Working fluid from thepipe ti l now flows through the check valve casing M, and pipe 32, tothe cylinder 35 of the fluid motor 21 to operate the fluid motor toapply final heavy pressure to the pressing elements and hold the pressin closed position. After the operation of the valves to close theexhaust 86 and open the intake 85 in the valve casing 80 the operatormay release the push buttons 62 and 112 since the check valve lB willprevent working fluid from escaping through the pipe 52 to either of theopen exhaust valves W or M.

When the operator wishes to open the press he will open the exhaustvalve it? by raising the handle lil l. Pressure in the pipe M anddiaphragm chamber 95 will immediately be reduced by the escape ofworking fluid through the pipe lflll, valve casing 11M, and around theopen exhaust valve Hi2. Due to the reduced cross section of the orificeM in the pipe ill working fluid will not enter from the chamber Mi intothe pipe M as fast as it will exhaust through the pipe Mill, valvecasing Bill, and, around the open exhaust valve Hi2. When the pressurein the diaphragm chamber 95 is thus reduced the spring 89 will move thevalves 85 and 86 into normal position with the intake valve E5 closedand the exhaust valve 86 open. The supply of working fluid from the pipeH is thus cut off by the closing of the intake valve 85, and workingfluid will exhaust from the cylinder 35 through the pipe d2, check valvecasing Ml, pipe 5%, valve casing 80, and open exhaust, valve 86. Thespring 33 (see Figure 1) will return the press operating mechanism toopen-press position.

It is to be noted that the by-pass control valve means M serves toconnect the initial pressure feed line H, 52 with the final or by-passfeed line 5t, ll. The spring 50 controls the action of the by-pass valvemeans i l at or near the end of the power stroke of the pneumatic motorpiston 36 by opening the pressure port it and thereby continuing theflow of motive fluid pressure to the cylinder 35 and completely cuttingout the initial or preliminary pressure supply or feed line 52 so thatit matters not that the operator releases the control manuals t2 and l2after the press closes. The spring Bil does not open the normallyclosedport Mi until near the end of the piston stroke and then the two valvemeans 56 and 5t, which are merely pilot or initial operating valves, arecompletely shunted or cut out. The combination mechanical-pneumaticmeans M, 96 exer- .cises complete control over the by-pass valve means Mand its actuating spring means 50 and permits the latter to functiononly after the piston 36 uncovers the port 38. These are importantfeatures of the invention.

A plurality of closed intake spring-loaded valves 65 and 318, as well asthe open exhaust valve 60, insures a deenergized motor means 21, untilthe two pilot or preliminary manuals 62 and T2 are depressed, whereuponthe spring closed valve 38 is opened by fluid pressure initially toenergize the motor and thereafter the motor is continued energized bypressure received from another line, the by-pass ll, fi l.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have devised anovel two-hand control for pressing machines by means of which the pressis closed under final heavy pressure and held or locked in closedposition by fluid pressure without the necessity of locking theoperatoroperated control valves. It will be further apparent that theoperation of my improved looking or by-pass pressure feed line controlmeans is entirely automatic. The invention is illustrated in itspreferred embodiment but changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine in combination cooperative pressing elements,one of which is movable toward and from the other to close and open thepress; operatingmechanism for the movable pressing-element including afluid motor having a piston, and a cylinder with a port opening in thewall thereof near the end of the stroke of the piston; operator-operateddevices for supplying working fluid to the cylinder to operate the fluidmotor to close the press; other devices for supplying working fluid tothe cylinder to lock the press in closed position; operating means forsaid other devices including means operated by working fluid suppliedthereto when the piston uncovers the port in the cylinder during closingmovement of the press.

2. A garment or ironing press, comprising in combination, coacting pressjaws, operating mechanism to open and close the press, including afluid-pressure motor operatively connected with one of the press jaws,an initial fluid-pressure supply line connected with the motor, two-handcontrol-valve means included in the supply line to admit fluid pressureto the motor to actuate it and close the press, spring means included inthe operating mechanism to arrest the closing movement of the pressshould an operator release either tWo-hand control-valve means duringsaid closing movement, a by-pass pressure-supply line also connectedwith the motor and by-passing pressure around the two-hand control-valvemeans; and a two-way check-valve means connecting the by-passpressure-supply line with the two-hand control-valve means, whereby saidbypass line is closed when the two-hand controlvalve means is operatedto start the motor, and conversely said by-pass line is opened to supplythe motor with fluid pressure after the two-hand control-valve means arereleased to hold the press closed by fluid pressure.

3. A garment or ironing press, comprising in combination, coacting pressjaws, operating mechanism to open and close the press, including afluid-pressure motor operatively connected with one of the press jaws,an initial fluid-pressure supply line connected with the motor, two-handcontrol-valve means included in the supply line to admit fluid pressureto the motor to actuate it and close the press, spring means included inthe operating mechanism to arrest the closing movement of the pressshould an operator release either two-hand control-valve means duringsaid closing movement, a by-pass pressure-supply line also connectedwith the motor and by-passing pressure around the two-hand control-valvemeans; and by-pass control-valve means connecting the two aforesaidsupply lines to the motor and adapted to normally close the initialfluidpressure supply line when the press is open but operable to openwhen'the two-hand control-valve means are actuated aforesaid andsimultaneously closing said' by-pass pressure-supply line, and meansoperative near the end of the press-closing motion to reverse thesetting of the by-pass control-valve means to close the initialfluidpressure supply line and open the by-pass pres sure-supply line.

4. A garment or ironing press, comprising in combination, coacting pressjaws, operating means to open and close the press, including afluid-pressure motor operatively connected with one press jaw, aninitial pressure-feed line including a two-hand control means connectedwith the motor, a by-pass pressure-feed line connected with the initialline and with the motor to bypass pressure around the two-hand controlmeans, a two-Way check-valve means in the by-passline and operative inone direction by pressure from the initial line to close the by-passline, and means to operate said check-valve means in the other directionby pressure from the by-pass line to close the initial line and open theby-pass line near the end of the press-closing movement.

5. A garment or ironing press, comprising in combination, coacting pressjaws, operating means to open and close the press, including afluid-pressure motor operatively connected with one press jaw, aninitial pressure-feed line including a two-hand control means connectedwith the motor, a by-pass pressure-feed line connected with the initialline and with the motor to bypass pressure around the two-hand controlmeans, a valve housing connecting the twolines and having two valve-portseats, a valve head movable between the two seats to close first oneport and the other, and actuating means operated near the end of thepress-closing movement to actuate the valve head to one of its seats toclose the initial feed line and open the by-pass line.

6. A garment or ironing press, comprising in combination, coacting pressjaws, operating means to open and close the press, including afluid-pressure motor operatively connected with one press jaw, adouble-check valve housing connected with the motor, spaced-valve seatsforming two intake ports in the housing, a pressurefccd line connectedwith each port, a valve head movable between the seats, a spring to holdthe valve on one seat when the press is open, manually-controlled valvemeans in one line, pressurecontrolled valve means in the other line, andmeans to actuate the pressure-controlled valve means upon apredetermined extent of movement of the press.

'7. A garment or ironing press comprising, in combination, coactingpress jaws; operating mechanism operatively connected with one of thepress jaws to open and close the press including, a fluid pressuremotor; operator actuated valve means having a normally open exhaust anda normally closed intake adapted to be connected with a source of fluidpressure, an operating connection connecting the operator actuated valvemeans and the motor, a bypass valve means having a normally open exhaustand a normally closed intake adapted to be connected with the source offluid pressure, a by-pass connection connecting the bypass valve meanswith the motor, actuating means operatively connected with the by-passvalve means to close the exhaust and open the intake upon apredetermined extent of movement of the operating mechanism, and meansnormally closing one of the connections and operated upon the samepredetermined extent of movement of the operating mechanism to cut offthe operating connection and open the by-pass connection.

8. A garment or ironing press comprising, in combination, coacting pressjaws; operating mechanism operativelyconnected with one of the pressjaws to open and close the press including, a fluid pressure motor;operator actuated valve means having a normally open exhaust and anormally closed intake adapted to be connected with a source of fluidpressure, an operating connection between the operator actuated valvemeans and the motor, a by-pass valve means having a normally openexhaust and a normally closed intake adapted to be connected with thesource of fluid pressure, a by-pass connection connecting the by-passvalve means with the motor, actuating means operatively connected withthe by-pass valve means to close the exhaust and open the intake upon apredetermined extent of movement of the operating mechanism, and meansnormally closing the operating connection and operated upon theactuation of the operator actuated valve means to open the operatingconnection and close the by-pass connection and operated upon actuationof the bypass valve means to close the operating connection and open theby-pass connection.

9. A garment or ironing press comprising, in combination, coacting pressjaws; operating mechanism operatively connected with one of the pressjaws to open and close the press including, a fluid pressure motor;operator actuated valve means having a normally open exhaust and anormally closed intake adapted to be connected with a source of fluidpressure, an .operating connection between the operator actuated valvemeans and the motor, a by-pass valve means having a normally openexhaust and a normally closed intake adapted to be connected with thesource of fluid pressure, a by-pass connection connecting the by-passvalve means with the motor, actuating means operatively connected withthe, by-pass valve means to close the exhaust and open the intake upon apredetermined extent of movement of the operating mechanism,

and check valve means resiliently closing the opcrating connection,means connected with fluid pressure upon actuation of the operatoractuated valve means and operating the check valve means to open theoperating connection and close the by-pass connection and being operatedby fluid pressure from the by-pass valve means upon actuation thereof tocut oil the operating connection and open the by-pass connection.

10. A garment or ironing press comprising, in combination, coactingpress jaws; operating mechanism operatively connected with one of thepress jaws to open and close the press including, a fluid pressuremotor; operator actuated valve means having, a normally closed intakevalve adapted to be connected with a source of fluid supply and anormally open exhaust valve; an

' operating connection between the operator actuated valve means and themotor, a. by-pass valve means having a normally closed intake valveconnected with a source of fluid supply, a by-pass connection connectingthe by-pass valve means with the motor, means operated upon apredetermined extent of movement of the operating mechanism for openingthe by-pass intake valve, valve means in the operating connection andopoeaaoo erated by fluid pressure in the by-pass connection to close theoperating connection and render the normally open exhaust valveineffective to exhaust fluid from the motor, and means to exhaust thefluid pressure from the motor to open the press.

11. A garment or ironing press comprising, in combination, coactingpress jaws; operating mechanism operatively connected with one of thepress jaws to open and close the press including, a fluid pressuremotor; operator actuated valve means having, a normally closed intakevalve adapted to be connected with a source of fluid supply; anoperating connection between the operator actuated valve means and themotor; a

by-pass valve means having a normally closed intake valve connected witha source of fluid supply, and a normally open exhaust valve; a by-passconnection connecting the by-pass valve means with the motor, meansoperated upon a predetermined extent of movement of the operatingmechanism for opening the by-pass intake valve and closing the openexhaust valve, and valve means operated by fluid pressure in theoperating connection to close the by-pass connection and thereby renderthe normally open exhaust therein ineffective, andmeans to exhaust themotor.

ERNEST DAVIS.

